April 9, 2002 Sims honors first Earth Heroes for 2002 » Watch the awards ceremony (Real Video file) or read the text transcript King County Executive Ron Sims today honored Equity Office Properties Trust, Illumination Arts Publishing, Peter Goldman and Charlie Raines as the first Earth Heroes for 2002. Sims honored these heroes for their contributions to protect King County’s environment. The King County Earth Legacy Initiative celebrates the importance of protecting and enhancing our natural environment. The Initiative outlines a number of innovative programs that are working hard to maintain the rich integrity of our region, as well as our high quality of life. “The local residents and businesses that I am recognizing today are true heroes demonstrating to others the kind of impact we all can make in preserving our natural environment for future generations,” said Executive Sims. "Peter Goldman and Charlie Raines are outstanding examples of environmental stewards in our region who work tirelessly to maintain the beauty and integrity of this area. Each has given unselfishly to the cause of environmental protection for the residents of this county. “Equity Office and Illumination Arts Publishing prove that local businesses can make a major impact on our environment,” said Sims. “I am pleased to honor and recognize such outstanding innovators and risk-takers who are working to maintain our environmental legacy.” Sims recognized Equity Office for its efforts to relieve regional traffic congestion by offering a new package of commute options designed to reduce traffic congestion for the 3,500 employees in the Bank of America Tower, Seattle’s tallest building. As part of the Bank of American Tower Commute Options Program, Equity Office is offering a significant financial contribution to subsidize this program for Bank of America Tower employers. This program is a partnership between King County Metro Transit, the City of Seattle, the Downtown Seattle Association, and Equity Office, owner and operator of the Tower; and is designed to alleviate building access and parking issues for employers, employees, and building guests. "We are honored to receive King County's Corporate Earth Hero Award," said Patrick Callahan, senior vice president - Seattle Region of Equity Office. "We hope our Commute Option Program at Bank of America Tower will inspire further environmental change in our community." "Equity Office took a big business risk in organizing an entire skyscraper," Sims said. [Enlarged view, 75K] "Peter Goldman is always doing good things," said Sims. "He is always making sure the law is applied to protecting the environment." [Enlarged view, 87K] "Charlies Raines has been an environmental advocate for over 30 years," said Sims. "He truly embodies the meaning of Earth Hero for his diligence." [Enlarged view, 121K] "Illumination Arts is working quietly and with incredible passion and vigor to protect our environment," said Sims. [Enlarged view, 66K] Employers who choose to participate in the Tower program will receive significant discounts and incentives for participation in a variety of successful Metro and Sound Transit programs including Area FlexPass, Flexcar access, FlexPark enrollment, rideshare and carpool assistance, and bicycling support. Additionally, Equity Office will reimburse Bank of America Tower employees $100 for every FlexPass distributed, which combined with other incentives could save employers up to 60 percent a year on employee transportation costs. With incredible dedication and vigor, Peter Goldman worked tirelessly as a staunch legal advocate to preserve and protect our forestlands in this region. Goldman is the founder, director and attorney for the Washington Forest Law Center, which started in 1996. It is a public interest law firm specializing in forest practice issues on state and private lands, which provides legal services to nonprofit organizations who are working to monitor and protect our region’s forests from destructive and unsustainable practices. Through this work, Goldman has ensured that legal services are available so all forestland, whether private or federal, is managed with consideration for its environmental impact and according to state and federal standards and laws. Goldman has also served as co-counsel for the Earth Justice Legal Defense Fund. In 1988, Goldman and his wife, Martha Konsgaard, founded the Kongsgaard-Goldman Foundation that provides essential support to a wide range of non-profit organizations in the Pacific Northwest including those in the area of environmental protection and restoration. Over $440,000 was distributed in 2001 for environmental causes. Additionally, Goldman has served on numerous local, regional, and national boards and committees including the Bicycling Alliance of Washington, Friends of the Methow, Jewish Family Services, Rails-To-Trains Conservancy, Friends of the East Lake Sammamish Trail, and the Trust for Public Land. Charlie Raines has been deeply involved with environmental issues in this region as an effective advocate and tireless volunteer for over thirty years. Currently, Raines is Director of the Foothills Forest Conservation Program of the Cascade Land Conservancy, Director of Lands and Public Funding for the Cascades Conservation Partnership, and Director of the Sierra Club’s Cascade Checkerboard Project, a post he has held for the past eight years. Through his work on the Checkerboard Project, Raines has preserved working forests in Western Washington through the assembly of large neighboring areas of public forestlands through land exchanges, acquisitions and conservation easements. Additionally, this project is also involved in pursuing federal funding to acquire important wildlife and recreation lands in the Central Cascades. “I'm fortunate to have grown up in this wonderful part of the planet,“ said Raines. “I am honored to receive this award for work that is so vital, yet seems so natural. But I haven't done this alone. There are so many who have worked with me to protect our environment, and who should share in this recognition.“ Over the years, Raines has been an active volunteer for the Sierra Club, including four years as Northwest Regional Vice-President and four years as chair of the Club's Ancient Forest Campaign. He has served on boards of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, the Western Washington Cascades Provincial Advisory Committee, Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission, and the Advisory Council to the Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Based in Bellevue, Illumination Arts Publishing has been publishing inspiring children's picture books for over ten years. The publisher is now setting the pace with its newest title "The Tree." Written by Dana Lyons and Illustrated by David Danioth, this powerful song of an ancient Douglas fir celebrates the age-old cycle of life in the Pacific Rim, revealing the interconnectedness of all things. This book sounds an urgent call to preserve our fragile environment and sends an important message to our younger generation. ”We are really pleased to receive this award,” said John Thompson, President of Illumination Arts. ”Our beautiful new book has already received more advance interest than any book we have ever published. The author is listed as Dana Lyons, but according to Dana it was actually written by an ancient Douglas fir. This was confirmed by Lummi elders, who revealed that each tree has its own song.” “The Tree” is printed on 50% recycled paper (25% post consumer waste, 25% pre-consumer waste), chorine free paper, which is a first for the company and a stand not yet met by most conglomerate publishing houses. The company has also joined Publishers in Partnership in replanting our nation's forest. New trees are planted to replace trees used to make books. A portion of the profits from the book will go to the Jane Goodall Institute and the Circle of Life Foundation. “Peter Goldman, Charlie Raines, Equity Office Properties and Illumination Arts Publishing represent the real spirit behind the Earth Hero Award and I am pleased to celebrate the important contributions they are making to our environment,” said Sims. “They have all continued to impact the lives of everyday people by encouraging us all to make a difference for our environment and for our communities.” Individuals and businesses in King County that are working to make a positive impact on our environment are selected monthly for their outstanding contributions to maintaining the natural beauty of this region. For more information about King County's Earth Legacy Initiative, please visit our Web site, at www.metrokc.gov/earthlegacy. 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